Clothes drying apparatus



Oct. 15, 1935. l- T* HUME 2,017,802

CLOTHES DRYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 oct. 15, 1935. J. T. HUME 2,017,802

CLOTHES i DRYING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1935. J. T. HUME CLOTHES DRYING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. l5, 1935. J. T. HUME CLOTHES DRYING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. l5, 1935 CLOTHES DRYING APPARATUS John T. Hume, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporationof `Illinois Application Api-ii s, -1932, sei-iai No. 603,993

7 Claims.

My invention relates .to clothes drying appara-l tus and more particularly to a device of this nature in which the liquid is expressed from the clothing by means of fluid pressure operating against a clothes supporting diaphragm which may be in the form of a bag or of various other shapes.

One object of my invention is to devise an apparatus of the character indicated which is arranged for association with and mounting on a base common with a standard type of washing tub, the same source of power being utilized to operate the agitator in the tub and the pressure pump for the dryer. e

A further object is to provide a dryer utilizing as the .squeezing agent for the diaphragm bag a body of water which is separate from the wash water and contained in a reservoir adjacent the pressure chamber, devices being provided to introduce water as desired from the reservoir into the chamber and for subsequent drainage from the latter.

A further object is to devise a dryer in which the wet clothing is initially deposited in a water impervious bag that is suitably mounted in a shell provided with a removable cover, the expressed water being discharged onto a drainboard that may be shifted into a plurality of positions to deliver the water into appropriate receptacles orwastepipes.

A further object is to devise a. dryer having a reservoir tub for holding the squeezing water andy a pressure chamber in the form of a shell that is shiftably supported on the upper edge of the tub, the several parts being so arranged as to permit their easy disassembly for purpose of cleaning or to replace the squeezing Water.

A further object is to provide a dryer of the character indicated in which the drainboard, pressure shell and clothes bag form a complete unit that may be simply lifted from the reservoir tub.

A further object is to provide a cover construction for the dryer which has interlocking engagement with the pressure chamber by means of a modied bayonet joint connection, a single stop lug being employed to indicate that the cover is in either a locked or a removable position.

These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the novel means by which said objects are eiectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: A

Figure 1 is a plan view of a laundry unit composed of a. typical form of washtub and the drying apparatus which more particularlygforms the subject matter of this application.-

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thefunit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a. conventional clutch arrangement whereby the pump drive for the dryer may be connected as desired.

Fig. iis an enlarged sectional elevation of the drying apparatus, as viewed in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view takenalong the line 5-5 in Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, the cover being shown' in locking 15 position. l .Y y y Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of the cover, corresponding to that illustrated inFg. 5 showing the same 4shifted fromthe position shown in Fig. 5 to a position permitting 'the removal of 20 the cover. 'n l' Fig. 7 is a section along the line 'I-'I in Fig. 4. looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing thestop provided on one ofthe interlocking lugs of the cover which serves to limit the move- 25 ment of the latter.

Fig. 8'is'a section along the line 8-8 in Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing "one of the water discharge outlets between the cover and the adjacent portion of the container. 30

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the pump and relief valve mechanism, as viewed in Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a section lalong the line IIJ-I0 in Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.v

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral I0 designates a base plate of a laundry unit which may be appropriately supported by a plurality of legs II from the underside thereof and on the upper side may support a standard type of wash- 40 tub I2 having anyrconventional form of agitator or washing device I3 that may be driven by a mechanism, designated generically by the numeral I4, which in turn is actuated by a motor I5. The precise construction of the washtub, its 45 mechanical agitating device and driving mechanism in and of themselves form no part of the present invention, but have been generically illustrated as `representing a typical form of voperating environment with which my improved drying apparatus may be associated.

Also mounted on the upper side of the base I0 is a reservoir tub I6 whose bottom may be centrally apertured to receive a threaded extension II provided on a casting I8 which is secured to 55 the base III by bolts 2|. Suitable packing rings I9 encircle the extension i1 above and below the bottom of the tub I6 and a nut 26 ismounted is located within thev casing 24 and actuated by `\means of an eccentric 26 that is driven by a shaft lfwhich projects externally of the casing for afxation thereto of 'a-clutch sleeve 28 having apl propriate clutch teeth 29 (see Fig. 3). Similar teeth 36 are provided upon a pulley 3| which is driven by a belt 32 from the motor I5. The pulley 3| is freely mounted upon the shaft 21 and is provided with a grooved collar 33 which is engaged by a fork 34 in order to shift the pulley 3| into either a driving or a released position, with refer'- ence to the pump shaft 21. It will be understood that the precise connection between the pulley 3I and the shaft 21 forms no' part ofthe present invention, the mechanism just described being intended as generally illustrative of a conventional means for controlling the drive of the pump shaft.

In order to properly control the movement of the impeller 25 so that it will have substantially y fa combined rolling and reciprocatory movement in the casing, a cylindrical block 35 is rotatably mounted in the impeller and fixedly receives one arm of a rocker 36 that is movable in a discharge passage 31 of the pump, the other a'rm of the 35 'i rocker being xedly received in another cylindrical block 39 that is rotatably mounted in the pump casing. From the foregoing, it will be obvious that, as the shaft 21 rotates, the rocking connections of the blocks 35 and 39 with the im- 40 peller and pump casing, respectively, will permit the impeller to roll around the interior of the casing, while, at the same time, imparting to the impeller a generally reciprocating movement for the purpose of driving water that enters the pump casing through the inlet passage 46 upwardly through the discharge passage 31 into a passage 38 that connects with the passage 22. l The inlet passage 4|l to the pump extends upwardly beside the passage 22 to communicate with the tub I6. A bypass 4| is provided between the passages 22 and 46 and this bypass includes a valve seat 42 which is closed by a valve 43 having a stem 44 which extends .transversely of the passage 46, the diameter of the stem being somewhat less than the diameter of the passage, and beyond the-passage the stem is reduced as at 45 for support in and extension through a plug 46 that is threaded in the casing I8. A coil spring 11 encircles the stem 45 between the head of the plug 46 and the shoulder formed by the junction of the stem portions 44 and 45, the tension of the spring being so adjusted that it maintains the seating of the valve 43 until the pressure established by thepump in the passage 22 attains a predetermined value, whereupon the spring yields and permits an unseating of the valve for a purpose hereinafter explained. Suitable packing 41 may also be provided around the stem portion 44 in order to provide an adequate water seal in the indicated location.

Manual actuation of the valve 43 is provided by pivotally connecting, as at 48, an eccentric strap 49 to the outer end of the valve stem 45.

75 The strap is actuated by an eccentric 50 which is rotatably mounted therein and actuated by a shaft 5I which may be provided with an appropriate handle. Byvthis construction, it is possible to effect an easy manual withdrawal of the l valve 43 against the spring 11, because of the 5 appropriate leverage provided by the several parts. Referring to Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, the upper edge of the tub I6 is reenforced by a channel ring 52 and resting on the flat upper side thereof are a pluralltyof pins 53 which are fixed in holes piro-.10 vided in an annular shoulder 54 formed on a drainboard 55. 'I'he use of the pins 53 serves to space the major portion of the shoulder 54 from the ring 52 and thus permits an easy rotary shifting of the drainboard 55 in a manner herel5 inafter described. The drainboard is provided with an upstanding wall 56 around all sides thereof, except along the discharge lip 51 over which the water expressed from the clothing may be discharged into an appropriate receptacle. As stat- 20 ed above, the drainboard merely rests upon the .tub I6 through the medium of the pins 53 and in upper end is provided with a flange 62. A packingring 63 is interposed between the flange 62 and the upper side of the container bottom and i a similar ring is interposed between the underside of the container bottom and a nut 64 which is threaded on the sleeve and which serves to com'- press the indicated packing rings. The sleeve 6| is centrally apertured in alignment with the pas- 40 sage 22 to receive the upper end of a pipe 65. Suitable packing 66 is preferably recessed in the sleeve 6| around the pipe 65, this packing being -preferably of a nature to withstand the pressure which is created in the container 60.

'Ihe upper edge of a water-impervious bag 61,' composed of rubber or any material having the quality indicated, is turned outward and rested upon the flange 59 and is overlaid by an annular ring 68 which is secured in position by screws 69 50 which pass through the ring, bag and flange 59 and are threaded in the drainboard shoulder 54, thus making a complete, removable unit of the indicated parts.

A cover 10, which may have the concave-conu vex shape indicated is mounted on the container and is provided with a depending, annular wall 1I which is provided with a plurality of radially disposed, spaced, inwardly extending lugs 12 which are intended to engage with the underside of o similarly disposed lugs 13 provided on the ring 68. One of the lugs 12 is provided with a stop 14 which, when it engages a cover lug, such as 15 (see Fig. '7), indicates that the cover is in a removable position, and when it engages with the next adjacent cover lug 16 indicates that the cover is in interlocking engagement with the container, inasmuch as all the lugs 12 will then be in locking engagement with the undersides of all 7o the container lugs 13.

In using my improved dryer, it will be assumed that the reservoir tub I6 has been partially filled with an appropriate mass of water. This condition is characteristic of the machine, for the walIl ter in the tub I6 is used for the purpose of applying asqueezingpressu're to clothing in the bag 61 and for no other purpose. The wet clothing may then be deposited in the bag 6T and the cover 'l0 placed thereon and rotated into 'locked position. VWhen the driving pulley 3i is moved into Ydriving engagement with the sleeve 28, the pump will begin to operate, drawing in water from the tub I6 downwardly through the passage 40 and discharging the water under pressure upwardly through the pipe 65 into the container 60 below the bag 61. During this time, it will be understood that the valve 43 occupies the closed position shown in Fig. 9.

As the water pressure builds up beneath the bag 61, the latter is moved upwardly to thereby compress the mass of wet clothing between it and the cover l0, the water discharged from the clothing passing onto the drainboard through the passages 18 between the lugs 'l2 (see Fig. 8) from which it may be delivered over the discharge lip 51 into-a wastepipe or another receptacle.

As the squeezing action progresses, there will be a point reached when it would be undesirable to apply any further pressure to the bag and, at this time, the spring 11 yields, permitting the valve 43 to open and thus establishing a relief opening through the bypass 4i for the excess pressure of the pump.

When it is desired to relieve the pressure in the container 60, it is only necessary to rotate the shaft 5i by the handle 19 (see Fig. 2) attached thereto, whereupon the valve 43 is moved into a position permitting a draining of the water from the container 60 downwardly through the pipe 65 for return to the tub I6. Thereupon, the cover 10 may be removed and the damp dry clothes removed and a new batch of wet clothing introduced in the bag 61.

One of the particular advantages yof the foregoing construction is that the drying operation may be carried on coincident with the washing of clothing in the tub I2, since the Water utilized for the squeezing action is entirely separate from the wash water. Accordingly, the water in the tub i6 may remain there indenitely and may be replenished from time to time merely by removing the container 6U. The latter act merely requires a simple lifting of the drainboard 55, to which the container 60 is attached.

While I have shown one set of elements and vcombinations thereof for effectuating my improved drying apparatus, it will be understood that the same is intended for purposes of illustration only and in no wise to limit the device to the exact forms and structures shown, for many changes may be made therein without departing` from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 1. A clothes drying apparatus comprising in combination, a reservoir tub for holding a body of water, a removable unit carried on the peripheral edge of the tub comprising a drain board rotarily shiftable on the tub edge, a container attached to the board and extending downwardly into the tub, a water impervious bag suspended from the wall of the container for receiving a. mass of wet clothing, a cover detachably secured to the container and spaced therefrom in predetermined locations to provide openings for the discharge of water expressed from the clothing onto the drainboard, and means for pumping the water from the tub into the container to squeezingly press the bag against the clothing contained therein.

2. A clothes drying apparatus comprising in combination, a reservoirtub for holding a body of water, -a removable unit carried on the peripheral edge of the tub comprising a drain board having a plurality of pins projecting downwardly 5 therefrom for supporting contact on the tubedge,

a container attached to the board and extending downwardly into the tub, a -water impervious bag suspended from the wall of the container for receiving a mass of wet clothing, a cover detachably secured-to the container and spaced therefrom in predetermined locations to provide openings for the discharge of water expressed from the clothing onto the drainboard, and means for pumping the water from the tub into the container to squeezingly press the bag against the clothing contained therein.

3. A clothes drying apparatus comprising in combination, a container, a retaining ring having a plurality of spaced projecting lugs, a water impervious bag clamped at its edge between the container and ring and extending downwardly into the container to receive a mass of wet clothing, a cover for the container having a plurality of spaced projecting lugs for engaging the lower 25 sides of the first-named lugs, and a stop on the cover engageable with one lug on the container to indicate the locking position of the cover and with an adjacent container lug after a rotary shifting of the cover to indicate the removable 30 position of thelatter.

4. A clothes drying apparatus comprisingin combination, a reservoir tub for holding a body of water, a drain board rotarily shiftable on the tub edge, a container attached to the board and 35 extending downwardly into the tub, a water impervious bag suspended from the wall of the container for receiving a mass of wet clothing, a cover detachably secured to the container and spaced therefrom in predetermined locations to 40 provide openings for the discharge of water expressed from the clothing onto the drainboard,

and means for pumping the water from the tub intothe container to squeezingly press the bag against the clothing contained therein.

5. A clothes drying apparatus comprising in combination, a reservoir tub for holding a body of water, a removable unit carried by the tub comprising a drain board located externally of the tub, a, container attached to the board and 50 extending downwardly into the tub, a water impervious bag suspended from the wall of the container for receiving a mass of wet clothing, a cover secured to the container and having openings for the discharge of water expressed from the clothing on to the drain board, and means for pumping the water from the tub into the container t cause the bag to exert a squeezing action against the clothing.

6. A clothes drying apparatus comprising in o combination, a reservoir tub for holding a body of water, a drain board carried on the tub edge, a container attached to the board and extending downwardly into the tub, a water impervious bag suspended within the container for receiving a mass of wet clothing, a cover secured to the container and having openings for the discharge of water expressed from the clothing on to the drain board, and means for pumping the water from the tub into the container to squeezingly press the bag against the clothing contained therein.

7.A clothes drying apparatus comprising in combination, a reservoir tub for holding a body of water, aremovable unit carried on the peu 5 wall of the container for receiving'a mass o! wet clothing, a cover detachably secured to the container and spaced therefrom in predetermined locations to provide openings-for the discharge of water expressed from the clothing onto the drain board. and means for pumping the water from the tub into the container to cause the bag to exert a squeezing action against the clothing. l

JOHN T. HUME. 

